Ninth-Inning Rally Falls Short

Tuesday, April 29

Jonesboro, Ark.

6:30 p.m.

Murray State

18-24

Arkansas State

26-19

Murray State

Arkansas State

Photo by: Arkansas State Sports Information

4/29/2014 9:56:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

| BOX SCORE (.pdf)

Murray State put the tieing run on third base with one out in the ninth inning, but were not able to push across the run in falling 7-6 to Arkansas State Tuesday evening at Tomlinsson Stadium.

Kollin Dowdy started the ninth inning by being hit by a pitch. With one out, Michael Hargrove drew a walk. After Pokey Harris pinch ran for Hargrove, Matt McGowan blooped an RBI single down the right-field line. Harris hustled to third, forcing a throw. The throw got away at third, allowing McGowan to take second. Unfortunately, that would be as close as the Breds would get as back-to-back strikeouts ended the threat and the game.

The Breds (18-24) jumped out to an early advantage as they pushed across a run in the second, and then added four more runs in the fourth. Dalton West drove in the first run of the game with a two-out double to left center, scoring Hargrove who reached on a single.

The fourth inning saw MSU score four more runs without the benefit of a hit. The Breds drew six runs in the inning, with Clay Kelly, Taylor Mathews and Ty Stetson each walking with the bases loaded. Anthony Bayus added a sacrifice fly to make it a 5-0 lead.

ASU (26-19) began their comeback in the home-half of the inning as Austin Baker delivered an RBI double off the wall in left field, before Ty Michelotti drove in two runs with a single to right field.

The Red Wolves continued to swing the bats with two outs in the fifth inning. A walk and a hit batter set up Baker's two-run double to left center. Baker later scored on Matt Burgess' single up the middle. Michelotti added his second RBI of the game with a run-scoring single to right in the sixth.

Tyler Saltsman (2-1) took the loss, allowing two runs on four hits and two strikeouts over one inning. Coulton Lee (2-1) got credit for the win after allowing one hit and striking out two over 1.2 innings.Tyler Zuber (2) earned the save after allowing one run on one hit and two strikeouts over one inning.

Hargrove paced the offense by going 2-for-3 with a pair of walks and two runs scored. McGowan added two hits and an RBI.

The Breds return to action Friday evening as they open a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series at Southeast Missouri. First pitch is set for 5 p.m.